This morning, I drove my children to school as I do every morning. My jaw tightened and I bit my tongue to hold back the tears as they told me about the lock-down drill they participated in at school yesterday.

They told me about hiding. They told me about keeping quiet. They told me about the little boy who was so terrified that he started screaming and crying even though it was just a drill. They told me that in a real shooting, that boy probably would have died.

I have sat helplessly by and watched as my son cried out in agony. I have known the terror of wanting to save your child and not being able to do anything at all. I would never wish that kind of pain on anyone. Ever.

I am so disgusted by our country and our overall inability to embrace progress. My heart just aches for a new generation that will grow up with fears, pressures, debts and loss that most of us have never known. My children sure didn’t get to stay children for very long.

— Bailey Wingler

Salisbury